Ever wonder why our bed and blanket spark and give a slight electric shock in winter? Here are its causes, along with easy methods to fix this issue.
Why is My Bed Giving Me Electric Shocks? Your bed can give you electric shock due to the production of static electricity due to friction between bed covers and other objects. Some fabrics like nylon and polyester tend to produce more static try using anti-static fabrics on the mattress. Friction between bedding and blanket can also cause this. Our clothes and body also have static electricity.
You can fix the problem by using fabric softener, dryer balls, and increasing the humidity level.
| Causes | Solutions |
| Bedding fabric produces static electricity | Use cotton fabric bed sheets |
| Friction between bedding fabric and blankets | Hang the electric hangers above your bed |
| Friction between bed cover and clothes | Use safety pins and fabric conditioners |
| Low humidity | Place the dehumidifier in the bedroom |
| Static electricity produced within the body | Use moisturizers or hair oils on the body |
| Static energy produced by the dryer | Place aluminum and dryer balls in the dryer |
Bedding fabric produces static electricity
The bedding can give us shock even after slight touch. This is a minor shock, and there is nothing to worry about. It is due to the production of static energy in the bed covers due to friction or rubbing with other objects.
It is called the triboelectric effect, which produces a spark due to the rubbing of charged objects.
Each material is made up of atoms that consist of electrons, protons, and neutrons. Getting or losing an electron will make the atoms positively or negatively charged.
The buildup of charge is responsible for the production of static electricity. The atoms or materials with opposite charges tend to attract each other.
The friction produced between two objects can produce a charge. This energy gives us minor shocks on touching the bedding.
Some bedsheet materials are more likely to produce shocking effects as compared to other materials. Fur, silk, rayon, velvet, and nylon are highly static fabrics.
The bed cover made up of these materials can shock our bodies. They are charged and produce sparks when rubbed against each other.
To overcome this problem, change the bed sheet cover with other materials. Cotton is the best option for this purpose. In addition, you can cover the mattress with cotton or linen that does not produce static electricity.
Some manufacturers also offer anti-static fabric for different purposes. These fabrics are blended with carbon fiber to prevent them from creating a spark.
Try using items like quilts and comforters that are 100% cotton. Remove the polyester from the comforters to get rid of this annoying issue.
Friction between bedding fabric and blankets
Blankets can also produce static electricity when rubbed against mattress covers. The blankets are usually made up of highly static materials like polyester or fur.
That’s why blankets can give a shock or light spark in your bed. Due to friction and rubbing with different objects, the charge is accumulated in the blanket. So they cling to everything they touch. It is essential to discharge the accumulated charge to solve the problem.
To get rid of static from the blankets, wash them separately from other clothes. Because mixing the natural and synthetic fiber will make the blankets susceptible to developing charges.
Washing alone will also prevent it from rubbing against other materials and fabrics. Instead, replace it with a blanket made up of natural materials like linen or wool.
After washing, do not dry it in a dryer. It is a source of static charge in clothes and other fabrics. Instead, let it dry in the open air and under sunlight to discharge the accumulated static.
Another option is to discharge the accumulated charge by using a metal hanger. Hang a metal hanger above the bed and blanket to remove the electric effect.
You can also rub the metal hanger on the upper and lower surface of the blanket to make it de-static.
Next, take a hanger and run the flat part of the metal wire or hanger above the mattress and blanket. Rub it over the blanket for 2 to 3 minutes to completely neutralize it.
Friction between bed cover and clothes
Friction is also produced due to the rubbing of our clothes on the bed covers. Every time you get inside, a blanket charge is produced due to friction. The clothes can also get static from rubbing with other clothes in a messy wardrobe.
In closets, the natural and synthetic fibers are placed in close contact. They can rub against each other, and charge is accumulated on their surface.
This minute quantity of electricity produces electric shock in your body. It is minor and does not harm the body. But it is enough to create an uncomfortable situation for you.
To get rid of this effect, you need to discharge your clothes. You can use this method to get rid of static from your clothes.
First of all, keep them separate in the closets. Then attach a safety pin to the clothes before getting inside the bed to prevent the production of a static effect.
Use a fabric conditioner to discharge the charge from their surface. After washing the clothes, dip them in a solution of fabric conditioner. Keep them in the solution for 5 to 10 minutes. It will help in reducing the friction between the clothes.
You can also use a white vinegar solution for this purpose. Just pour 10 to 15 ml of white vinegar into the water in a bucket.
Then dip all the clothes in this solution for some time. You can also spray the solution on them to neutralize them. Also, run dryer sheets on the clothes to remove the charge from their surfaces.
Low humidity
A dry environment can enhance the production of static electricity in all objects. Humidity below 35% can promote the accumulation of charge on the surface.
Our bedding and clothes are no exception. In winter, our clothes and other fabrics feel clingy and produce a shock in our bodies.
The dry atmosphere does not let the charge dissipate from the surfaces. At high humidity, the moisture content is high on all surfaces. It makes the bedding and other insulating things conductive.
The accumulated charge in the fabric is conducted away in a humid environment. The situation worsens in winter when the internal heating system dries out all the room moisture.
The ideal level of humidity is above 50 to prevent the building of static in the room and bed covers.
To make a room more humid, use a humidifier in the bedroom. There are different types of a humidifier on the market. Place it on the nightstand or the center table.
Turn it on during the night to adjust the humidity level in the room. Monitor the level of the humidifier and do not let it go above 50% to avoid other problems.
You can also increase the humidity naturally by placing any green plant in the room. Next, dry the wet clothes in the room to increase the moisture content.
Put a water bowl in the room to prevent dryness in your place. Finally, you can place a humidifier in the room to increase the moisture content of the room.
Static electricity produced within the body
The shock felt by our body can also result from friction between our body and the bed covers. An imbalance in the electrons and protons can result in the production of static.
It is our common observation to feel a slight spark due to rubbing our feet with carpets. This spark can give us a minor shock.
This is because of the production of static electricity due to an imbalance in electrons. This problem becomes worse when our body is extremely dry.
To get rid of this issue, remove the static from the body. You can apply any good moisturizer to the body to get rid of this.
Apply moisturizer on hands, face, and feet before going to bed. It will make your body less static. Take a bath before sleeping to keep your body neutral.
Our hairs also contain charge and promote the production of static in beds. You should keep them moisturized to solve this issue. Apply hair oil to prevent the build-up of charge.
You can also use a wet comb in your hair to keep them grounded. Using iron or other metal combs can also produce static in hair. Use a wooden hair comb as they are nonstatic.
Static energy produced by the dryer
The tumbling action of a dryer can also produce a charge in the covers and clothes.
When you dry the clothes in a dryer, friction is produced due to vigorous rubbing action between different fabrics. The charge accumulates on the bed covers and gives us an electric shock at night.
You can easily overcome this situation by skipping the drying process in summer. Do not use a dryer for drying the bedding covers and comforters. When it is crucial to use it, add damp clothes to the dryer to prevent the build-up of charge.
You can also buy the dryer balls to use in the dryers. The dryer balls are very effective in overcoming this problem. They absorb moisture or humidity before starting the drying cycle.
After drying ends, they release the moisture to prevent the accumulation of charge. They are reusable and available at a reasonable price.
You can also add aluminum balls to the dryer to fix it. It prevents the build-up of charge due to friction fabric softener in the dryer machine to keep the fabric silky and smooth. Do not dry the highly static fabrics with anti-static clothes.
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